NZDF Sends Personnel to Battle Nelson Wildfire

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is sending seven firefighters and three fire trucks to support the emergency response to the Nelson wildfire.

Brigadier Jim Bliss, the Land Component Commander, said four firefighters and two fire trucks from Linton Military Camp had been deployed to Nelson this afternoon.

Three more firefighters and a fire truck are also being dispatched from RNZAF Base Woodbourne.

Air Commodore Tim Walshe, the Air Component Commander, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft en route to Auckland from Christchurch had been diverted to Wellington to pick up personnel from Fire and Emergency New Zealand and New Zealand Police and fly them to Nelson this afternoon.

Since Monday, 12 NZDF firefighters have been sent to help control the vegetation fires that have flared in Canterbury and Marlborough.